Coined the "Bling Bishop," Tebartz-Van Elst, who is known as theologically conservative, has denied any wrongdoing, saying the cost overruns on the renovation are legitimate because surrounding structures had to be protected, including the old city wall.

soundoff(680 Responses)

He is a smart guy.. He figured out that the whole Christianity is a big lie anyhow.. so lets enjoy the money while you can...

November 1, 2013 at 2:44 pm |

Tony

After you die, tell that to Jesus.

November 5, 2013 at 2:52 am |

Ehsan

Christianity is the biggest lie in the history of mankind....

November 1, 2013 at 2:40 pm |

observer

The author has received incredible flack from the apologists of the organized cult religions. I consider that to be a badge of courage and honor. Obviously, she has got the goods on them and it hits them where it hurts the most, their pocket book and livelihood. The apologists know that Acharya has exposed them for the frauds they are, but all she has done is tell the truth and they think its hell. Reviewer

November 2, 2013 at 11:57 pm |

observer

apologists have no idea who she is

November 3, 2013 at 12:54 am |

observer

lol

November 2, 2013 at 11:57 pm |

mzh

Surat (Chapter) Luqmān (Luqman):
31:1 – Alif, Lam, Meem.
31:2 – These are verses of the wise Book,
31:3 – As guidance and mercy for the doers of good
31:4 – Who establish prayer and give zakah (obligatory charity), and they, of the Hereafter, are certain [in faith].
31:5 – Those are on [right] guidance from their Lord, and it is those who are the successful.
31:6 – And of the people is he who buys the amusement of speech to mislead [others] from the way of Allah without knowledge and who takes it in ridicule. Those will have a humiliating punishment.
31:7 – And when our verses are recited to him, he turns away arrogantly as if he had not heard them, as if there was in his ears deafness. So give him tidings of a painful punishment.
31:8 – Indeed, those who believe and do righteous deeds – for them are the Gardens of Pleasure.
31:9 – Wherein they abide eternally; [it is] the promise of Allah [which is] truth. And He is the Exalted in Might, the Wise.
31:10 – He created the heavens without pillars that you see and has cast into the earth firmly set mountains, lest it should shift with you, and dispersed therein from every creature. And We sent down rain from the sky and made grow therein [plants] of every noble kind.
31:11 – This is the creation of Allah . So show Me what those other than Him have created. Rather, the wrongdoers are in clear error.

Verse 31:6 talks about those who preaches to take human away from worshipping One True God (pure monothiestic) and those who purchases their stories to be misguided are the same... the one who purchases these stories are not being forced but they are purchasing by their free wills that human will be judged for this 'free will' that how they have used this 'free will' when it comes to The Creator OR Creators...

Peace!!!

October 29, 2013 at 10:36 am |

yoozyerbrain

sigh...so sad. Where to start...?

Mzh, your crapulous spuming has the same foundational reality as Where's Spot, but you weren't taught to fear Sally (Spot's mom) since birth. If you had been taught that your above screed would be filled with Sallyisms. See, none of it serves humanity. God is not necessary for being and doing good, but god comes in handy when you want to separate and demonize, doesn't it. God, therefore, is evil. A+B=C, just yoozing my god-given braims here.

As for the bishop, having the obscenely rich catolic church at odds with him seem incongruous. The bishop is just following the example set by his organization. Keep giving him money, he's just doing what all superst ition-mongers have done since the dawn of time. It's a tried and true system sanctioned by the holy book itself. Along with slavery and murder among other things. Same with the koran mzh, just a bunch of anti human, anti American lies. Have fun, though...

Take away religion and would you ever hold up your newborn son, look at his peni s and say, hmmm, that's gotta go...? Only religion can make you think the perverse is normal.

November 1, 2013 at 2:14 pm |

yoozyerbrain

Sally: "That god, he hasn't eaten his supper yet! Where can he be?
Is he in the closet? Nooooo
Is he in the basket? Nooooo
Is he under the stairs? Noooo
There he is, under the carpet? Nooo that's a turtle!
Is he in the clouds? Nooooo
Is he out in space? Noooo
Is he behind the big bang? Noooooo

There he is, he's in the closed mind! God, come out and eat your kibbles!"

From "Where's Spot", updated by Yoozyerbrain

"God is an ever-receeding pocket of ignorance" ....someone smarter than Yooz.

November 1, 2013 at 2:22 pm |

cedar rapids

what do you mean if?

October 29, 2013 at 9:34 am |

cedar rapids

like rain dances change the weather

October 29, 2013 at 9:31 am |

aldewacs2

That first picture of the 'bishop' makes me think of George Carlin's ".. but he loves you!" quote.
Not sure why but I think it's the gesture.

Yes it does, it makes an otherwise normal brain stop functioning properly and makes one a very lazy person unable to take responsibility for ones own actions. Learn to think for yourself instead of using imaginary monsters to do it for you.

October 28, 2013 at 7:51 am |

JJ

You Catlicks are a strange bunch of sheep.

October 27, 2013 at 8:55 pm |

EX Catholic

They are not sheep but instead some other farm or wild animals from the jungle.

October 27, 2013 at 11:39 pm |

AJ

At least we can spell.

October 30, 2013 at 10:25 am |

Lamb of Dog

Religion is more concerned with looking good rather than doing good. Look at how many mega churches exist. The Audio/Video equipment being used today is extremely expensive.
Why help the poor when you can see yourself on the big screen in HD.

More proof, (not like we needed any more), of how religion is just a business created to separate the gullible from their hard earned money.

There has never been a more successful Ponzi scheme than religion.

But go ahead and keep getting fleeced, you mindless believers.
The scammers need to eat too, I guess.

October 25, 2013 at 3:57 pm |

AE

My religion is not a scam. We give and help more than we take and harm.

October 25, 2013 at 4:16 pm |

?

AE but of course you realize you are in good company, every jesus freaking cult/sect says the same thing and of course you are all right, ridiculous.

October 25, 2013 at 4:22 pm |

niknak

That is what all the fools who gave to the Bakers said too.

Look, I will never say that all of the people who are involved with religious organizations do so out of personal gain.
Some really do good work and do it out of nothing but their own satisfaction of helping others.
Catholic nuns are a good example.

Here is my question to you ArtificalEvidence, why can't you do this without having some big brother that you are trying to curry favor with?
Why can't you religious people just be stand up guys and gals because you want to be that way?
Why does there have to be some supernatural "power" in the picture?

October 25, 2013 at 4:28 pm |

AE

– Here is my question to you ArtificalEvidence, why can't you do this without having some big brother that you are trying to curry favor with?

There is not big brother I'm trying to curry favor with.

– Why can't you religious people just be stand up guys and gals because you want to be that way?

I can't speak for all religious people, but I know they can. Some decide to come together to help others. We have a shared interest and can do more as a group than as individuals.

– Why does there have to be some supernatural "power" in the picture?

I never said there had to be.

My church is definitely not a Ponzi scheme or a scam. We are good for my neighborhood, city, country and world.

October 25, 2013 at 4:39 pm |

Kebos

One doesn't need religion to give more than one takes.

October 26, 2013 at 5:59 am |

yoozyerbrain

It's my contention that if you remove the supersti tion organization and just teach ethics from birth, the same or maybe even a greater percentage of people will, by their nature, do good works. Superst ition is not needed to bring people together to help others. In fact, supersti tion organizations that try to help people usually bring their strings-attached reality that ultimately harms more than it helps.

People doing good because it's their nature is more real and profound than people doing good out of a supernaturally propelled feeling of guilt or fear, because there is no vested interest, just someone doing good.

Teaching supersti tion as fact to children is child abuse, pure and simple.

November 1, 2013 at 2:36 pm |

Science

Hey AE you might want to read this ...............the CON.

Biggest CON under the sun

How shameless Christian con artists took over the GOP

by Amanda Marcotte posted on October 28, 2013 01:15AM GMT

Conservative politicians are exploiting their voters the same way some church leaders exploit believers

October 28, 2013 at 7:45 am |

Now that's just stupid...

afterall, i would hope so

November 28, 2013 at 3:38 am |

Lucifer's Evil Twin

For my bro LL ~

I smoke two joints in the morning
I smoke two joints at night,
I smoke two joints in the afternoon
and it makes me feel alright
I smoke two joints in time of peace
and two in time of war
smoke two joints before I smoke two joints
and then I smoke two more

October 25, 2013 at 3:22 pm |

Lionly Lamb

👿 🙂 👿

October 25, 2013 at 3:30 pm |

Born2BModerated

those are some seriously bloodshot eyes there LL

October 25, 2013 at 3:33 pm |

Lionly Lamb

😳 😦 😳

October 25, 2013 at 3:39 pm |

Doc Vestibule

Toke a big spliff of some good sensimilla....

October 25, 2013 at 4:05 pm |

Betty

I guess this story takes the place of the Belief Blog's traditional Halloween story.

Most people think,
Great god will come from the skies,
Take away everything
And make everybody feel high.
But if you know what life is worth,
You will look for yours on earth:
And now you see the light,
You stand up for your rights. jah!

Father Maxi: Well, maybe we could change the law to say that it's okay for a priest to have sex...with women.
Congregation of Cardinals: Ahhh! Rabble rabble rabble rabble!
Gilgamek Cardinal: The Gilgamek vagina is three feet wide and filled with razor sharp teeth. Do you really expect us to have sex with them?
Father Maxi: Right, maybe we should forget about the Gelgameks for right now.
Gilgamek Cardinal: Forget about the Gelgameks?!
Gilgamek Cardinals: Ahhh! Rabble rabble rabble rabble!

The CNN Belief Blog covers the faith angles of the day's biggest stories, from breaking news to politics to entertainment, fostering a global conversation about the role of religion and belief in readers' lives. It's edited by CNN's Daniel Burke with contributions from Eric Marrapodi and CNN's worldwide news gathering team.